Gylfi Sigurdsson hopes Gareth Bale stays with Tottenham and helps the club achieve Champions League football.

Bale, who scored 21 Premier League goals in 34 games, has been heavily linked with a move away from Spurs after their failure to finish in the Premier League's top four and subsequently qualify for the Champions League.

Sigurdsson is not certain Bale will remain at White Hart Lane but insists it is crucial that Spurs keep their top performers if they want to improve.

"It's important to keep good players and he is a fantastic player," he told the Sun. "For us to push forward it would be fantastic if he stays. If he goes, the club will get a lot of money for him.

"Hopefully, he would be replaced by a few players because I don't think there will be one player who can replace him.

"That's how good he was this season. He was very important for us. He's been here for a long time. He's very happy and obviously enjoying his football so, hopefully, he will stay."

Real Madrid are among the front-runners for the Wales international's signature, but reports in the English media also claim he could sign a contract extension. The Daily Mail reports that Bale expects a pay rise to be brought into line with the Premier League's highest earners if he is to remain at Tottenham.

Currently earning around £110,000-a-week on a deal which has three years to run a source at the club is quoted as saying: "The vital issue will be getting the Champions League out of Gareth's head before he commits for another season. That won't be easy."